Display-cabinet.



No. 897,786. PATENTED SEPT. 1, 1908. 0. T..ROMSOS. DISPLAY CABINET. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 1 908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1 ruz mamas PETERS cm, WASHINGTON, n. c.

- PATENTED SEPT. i 1908 I 8977786 0. T. ROMSOS.

DISPLAY CABINET.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 21, 190B.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

6. literacy THE NORRIS PETERS w. wAsnlN IGN e, E.

No. 897,786. PATENTED SEPT. '1, 1908.

0. T.- ROMSOS.

DISPLAY CABINET.

PL T .21 19 AP IGA ION FILED JAN 08 3 SHEETsfSHBET 7: NORRIS PETERS co, WASHINGTON, D. c.

v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFTQE.

OLIVER T. ROMSOS, OF SARLES, NORTH DAKOTA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN A. MEYER, OF SARLES, NORTH DAKOTA.

' DISPLAY-CABINET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1, 1908.

Application filed. January 21, 1908. Serial No. 411,989.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER T. RoMsos, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sarles, in the county of Cavalier and State of North Dakota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Display-Oabinets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a goods exhibitor or display apparatus for exhibiting textile goods, such as lace curtains and the like, the object of the invention being to provide an apparatus of this character wherein the goods are normally inclosed within a casing and protected from injury and whereby the goods may be projected from the casing and arranged for effective individual and collective display.

A further object of the invention is to pro vide a simple, inexpensive and efficient construction of apparatus of this type wherein the curtains or other goods are carried by an extensible frame composed of a series of racks adapted to fold within the casing, said racks being so connected with each other and operating mechanism that they may be when extended swung to bring the broad sides of the curtains to view, thereby enabling them to be displayed to the best advan tage to a prospective purchaser.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus showing the casing opened and the extensible frame projected. Fig. 2 is a verti cal longitudinal section through the body of the casing and the track rail, showing the racks of the extensible frame turned to expose the faces of the curtains outward. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section through the apparatus with the extensible frame folded within the closed casing. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of some of the racks and the system of levers connecting them. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the outer rack, the carriage supporting the same and the guide block, the latter being shown in relative position in dotted lines. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of the door of the easing and its carrier bar. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the track, the latch mechanism and its supporting parts. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section through the casing showing a modified form of door-latch mechanism. Fig. 9 is a vertical longitudinal section on line 88 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective pew, showing one of the latch plates on the c oor.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates the body of a suitable cabinet or inclosing casing, comprising a top, sides and ends and open at the bottom, said casing being adapted to be arranged in a horizontal position and supported from the ceiling of the store room or display department, by suitable brackets 2 disposed adjacent the corners thereof, which brackets may vary in length or be adjustable to suspend the casing at any desired elevation above the floor and below the ceiling.

In practice, when the apparatus is employed in a store room having wall shelving, the casing is secured to the ceiling at a point outward from the side wall in advance of the shelving, so that the extensible frame and curtains carried thereby may be projected in front of and turned to a position parallel with the shelving, as hereinafter described. The casing is adapted to be closed by a swinging door 3, whose structure and mode of mounting will be hereinafter set forth.

Extending longitudinally within the casing and projecting at one end a suitable distance therefrom is a hollow guide bar or track 4, preferably formed of metal and provided in its bottom with a longitudinal guide slot 5.

The outer end of the bar is secured to the ceiling through the medium of a supporting bracket 6. Arranged for sliding and pivotal movement on the track is an extensible goods carrying and exhibiting frame comprising a series of suspending racks 7, each of which may consist of a bar or strip provided with downturned end flanges 8 forming supports for a roller 9 upon which the curtain or other article is hung, as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

Each rack carries a pivot pin or bolt 10 projecting upwardly from the center thereof and through the slot 5 into the hollow track, the upper end of said pin or bolt being headed to ride upon the bottom surface of the track and support the rack in position. This mode of mounting the racks is the same throughout with the exception of the outermost rack of the series and the hinged door 3, which is connected for movement with the series of racks. As shown in Fig. 5, the outermost rack is connected by its pin or bolt 10 with a sliding carriage 11 comprising a bar pivotally engaging the bolt and carrying a pair of contact devices or rollers 12 to operate the door latches, as hereinafter described, the pin or bolt 10 being relatively longer than the companion pins or bolts of the other racks to engage a sliding operating block 13 movable within the hollow track. The door 3 is hinged at its upper edge, as indicated at 14, to a carrier bar 15 which is provided with a pivot pin or bolt 10 mounted like the pins 10 to permit the door to slide and swing with the racks, the door being adapted through its hinge connections 14 to swing vertically to open and closed positions.

Cords or cables 16 and 17 are connected'at their forward ends to the front and rear ends of the block 13, the cord 16 being passed around a guide pulley 18 at the forward end of the track 4, and both cords extending rearwardly through the track and an opening in the rear end wall of the casing and thence downward over a suitable guide pulley 19 upon said wall. The downwardly extending free ends of the cords are designed to be manipulated to slide the block 13 backward and forward in the hollow track, whereby the outer rack of the series will be positively moved in one direction or the other. In order that the motion transmitted to this outer rack may be communicated to the door and other racks of the series, the parts mentioned are connected by a system of levers 20 en gaging the pivot pins and pivotally conneeted at their ends to the racks in such manner as to perform the function of lazytongs, whereby the racks may be extended and contracted and turned at an angle to their nor mal position. It will be observed that the levers are diagonally arranged, whereby they are adapted, although not connected like the ordinary lazytongs structure, to swing in one direction to spread the racks apart and to swing in the reverse direction to draw the racks together. It will thus be understood that when the cord 1.6 is pulled upon to slide the block 13 outward, outward motion will be transmitted to draw the series of racks composing the extensible frame outward until they reach the position shown in Fig. 1, in which the curtains or other articles displayed are arranged in their normal positions transversely of the casing or at right angles to the track 4. When the racks have been extended to this extent a further forward pull upon the block 13 will cause the levers 20 to swing outward to a maximum extent until the racks are spread to their limit, at which time the pulling strain will cause the racks to swing on their pivot bolts to the position shown in Fig. 1. By this means the outer sides of the curtains will be brought to lie in a nearly parallel relation and to face outwardly, thus disposing them for display to the best advantage to a prospective customer. This mode of operation will permit the hollow track to be extended in front of the shelving in a store room, so that the curtains when projected for display. will hang in front of the shelving with their lower ends in convenient position to the counter so that they may be handled and examined.

A reverse or rearward movement of the block 13 may be effected by pulling upon the .cord 17, as a result of which the racks will first be turned back to the position shown in Fig. 1 and then slid rearwardly until they door and to lock and unlock the same, operating means therefor is provided together with a latch mechanism which is partially automatic in action to release the door. To

the side edges of the door adjacent the lower.

end thereof are connected at one end cords21 and 22 which extend upward through the slot 5 and over a guide ulley 23 and thence rearwardly through the iollow track and the rear end wall of the casing and finally over a guide pulley 24 suspended from the ceiling, the opposite ends of the cords de ending from said pulley for manipulation. y pulling downwardly upon the operating ends of the cords the door will be closed in an obvious manner and by relaxing the cords the door will drop by gravity. The free ends of both sets of operating cords may be connected in practice with cleats upon the side wall or shelving so as to hold them out of the way when the ap aratus is not in use.

The door ocking means consists of duplicate sets of match mechanisms supported by the casing on opposite sides of the track to engage the free edge of the door adjacent each side thereof, each set comprising a latch 25 pivotally mounted upon the outer end wall of the casing body 1 and having a lower hooked end 26 to engage under the free end of the door, said hooked end being formed with a beveled face 27 by which the latch may be retracted by the door on the upward movement .of the latter and then be projected by its operating spring to engage the door. The upper end of the latch is connected by a link rod 28 with one end of a lever 29 pivotally mounted within the casing upon a bolt 30, the other end of the lever being provided with a trip member 31 lying in the path of 7 one of the rollers 12, and being connected with the track 4 by a spring 32' acting to normally hold the latch in door-engaging position. When the racks are moved inwardly and nearly reach the limit of their inward movement the roller 12 upon the adjacent end of the carriage 11 strikes the trip 31 and swings the lever 29 by which the latch is thrown to its fullest projected position, thus allowing the roller to pass. When the racks are extended in the manner previously described the roller again strikes the trip and swings the lever 29 in the reverse direction, whereby the latch is retracted and allows the door to openby gravity, thus obviating the necessity of manually retracting the latch.

In the construction of the latch mechanism shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, latch devices 25 are pivotally mounted upon the casing for outward swinging movement to engage beneath keeper plates 25 secured to the corner portions of the free end of the door, and incidentally serving as braces at these points. These latch devices are pivotally connected by rods or links 28 to controlling levers 29 arranged in parallel relation to the track 4 on opposite sides thereof, said levers being retained in normal locking position by springs 30 The inner or rear ends of the levers are formed with contact portions or enlargements 31' for engagement by the rollers 12 and are provided beyond said contacts with recesses 31 to receive the rollers when the racks are retracted and the casing closed by the lock door. Upon the outward movement of the carriage 11, it will be understood that the rollers 12 pass from the recesses 31 and engage the contacts 31, thereby swinging the levers so as to draw upon and retract the latches 25, allowing the door to drop to an open position by gravity, the levers being returned to normal position by the springs 30 a after the rollers have passed the contacts. When the racks are folded back into the casing, the rollers 12 first come into engagement with the contacts 31 a and retract the latches, so as to allow the door to be swung up to full closed position, after which, on the final movement of the carriage, the rollers pass into the recesses 31', thus allowing the latches to be automatically moved outward beneath the keeper plates 25 to lock the closed door in an obvious manner.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and mode of operation of the device will be readily understood and its manifold advantages appreciated. It will also be apparent that the apparatus is comparatively simple of construction and may be manufactured and installed ata low cost, and affords a convenient adjunct to stores in which display space is limited.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A display apparatus comprising a casing, a track arranged therein and extending therefrom, an extensible frame consisting of a series of racks arranged for travel upon the track and connected for relative movement toward and from each other and for pivotal motion at an angle to their path of travel, means for extending and contracting said frame, and a door or cover for closing the casing.

2. A display apparatus comprising a suspensible casing, a hollow slotted track arranged therein and extending therefrom, an extensible frame consisting of a series of racks having pivot members engaging the track and projecting through theslot therein, a cover for closing the casing, operating devices therefor, a member slidably mounted within the hollow track and connected with the extensible frame, and cords or the like attached to said member for moving the same in and out, said cords extending through the track.

3. A display apparatus comprising a suspensible casing, a track therein and extend ing therefrom, a series of racks pivotally and slidably engaging the track, a system of levers connecting the racks for expansion and contraction, means for sliding the racks in opposite directions, a door for closing the casing, and controlling means therefor.

4. A display apparatus comprising a sus pensible casing, a track arranged therein and extending therefrom, a series of racks pivotally and slidably engaging the track, a system of levers connecting the racks, said levers having a lazytong action to expand and contract the racks and permit a pivotal move ment thereof, a member movable within the track, and operating means coacting with said member for adjusting the racks.

5. A display apparatus comprising a suspensible casing, a track disposed within the casing and extending outwardly therefrom, racks slidably and pivotally engaging the track, a system of levers connecting the racks for expansion and contraction, means arranged within and extending through the track for moving the racks in opposite direc tions, a door for closing the casing, and means for operating the door and securing the same in closed position.

6. A display apparatus comprising a suspensible casing, a hinged door for closing the same, a track arranged within and extending beyond the casing, racks slidably and ivotally engaging the track, a system of levers connecting the racks and forming an extensible and contractible frame, means arranged within and extending through the track for extending and contracting the frame, and means for raising and lowering the door and securing the same in closed position.

7. A display apparatus com rising a suspensible casing, a hinged door or closing the same, a track arranged within and extending beyond the casing, a series of racks slidably and pivotally engaging the track, a system of levers connecting the racks to form an extensible and contraotible frame, operating means connected with the outer rack, means for raising and lowering the door, a latch for the door adapted to automatically engage the same when the door is closed, and means associated with the rack operating mechanism for retracting said latch to allow the door to open by gravity upon the outward movement of the rack.

8. A display apparatus comprising a casing, a track arranged therein and extending therefrom, an extensible frame consisting of a series of racks arranged for travel upon the track and connected for relative movement toward and from each other and for pivotal motion at an angle to their path of travel, a door or cover for closing the casing, and means for simultaneously opening the door and extending the frame and contracting the frame and closing the door.

9. A display apparatus comprising a casing, a track therein and extending therefrom, an extensible and contractible rack frame arranged for travel on the track and pivotal movement from a displaying to a non-dis playing position, a door for closing the casing, a latch for holding the door closed, means operated by the rack frame for controlling the latch to release and engage the door, and

means for simultaneously operating the rack frame and door.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

OLIVER T. ROMSOS.

Witnesses:

FRANK J. HODGINS, LOUIS P. JoNEs. 

